A veteran San Francisco news anchor who was arrested twice this week, within nine hours, has been on a downward spiral since his wife filed for divorce, it has emerged.
Frank Somerville, 65, was arrested Monday after an argument with his brother over caring for their elderly father.
Somerville was taken to Santa Rita Jail and released on $32,500 bail.
Hours later, he was arrested again – this time for drunk driving.
He was returned to prison and released on $10,000 bail on Tuesday.
It emerged on Wednesday that Somerville’s dramatic demise coincided with the collapse of his marriage.
Ex-KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, 65, was taken into custody twice for allegedly assaulting his brother, on Monday and then on Tuesday while driving under the influence
Somerville is seen with his wife, TV producer Donna Wright Somerville, and their two daughters
The 31-year-old KTVU veteran had anchored the 6 and 10 p.m. broadcasts for 13 years before they opted not to renew his contract in January 2022.
In 2021, Somerville was suspended twice by KTVU – where he had worked for three decades.
He was suspended in May for double-tongued his words and stumbling on live broadcast. He blamed Ambien, but went to rehab and then returned to the show.
Several months later, Somerville made national headlines when he questioned the racial disparity between coverage of missing woman Gabby Petito and black women.
Somerville’s youngest daughter is adopted and is black.
The Mercury News reported he wanted to add a tag to the end of the station’s coverage to share the inconsistency. The network declined.
In December 2021, he then crashed his Porsche and ended up on another car from behind.
The collision was captured on videoo and showed one vehicle pushing the other through an intersection while the two cars were still stuck.
He was charged with driving under the influence.
Somerville’s black Porsche will ride behind an Audi in December 2021
Somerville was charged with drunk driving after the December 2021 crash
A month later, in January 2022, his wife of 25 years, TV producer Donna Wright Somerville, filed for divorce.
She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the divorce and listed their divorce date as June 19, 2020.
The couple has two daughters, one of whom was adopted and who was a minor at the time of the filing, according to court documents obtained by The New York Post.
The divorce was finalized on May 1 this year.
At the time the divorce was filed, Somerville was told by KTVU that his contract was not being renewed.
On May 26, Somerville posted a photo of himself and his youngest daughter showing off their tattoos, saying it was a celebration of his liberation from television work.
“I lived in the TV box for 40 years,” he wrote.
Now I can finally express myself. … I understand that tattoos have a negative impression on many.
“Well, I’m here to say, ‘And then?’ I like them and they make me happy.’
Ten days later, he would begin his wild assault that would see him arrested twice.
According to police, the first call came in around 6:36 p.m. Monday from the 800 block of Indian Rock Avenue in Berkeley for reports of a man being restrained after a fight.
The house belonged to Somerville’s father.
Upon arrival, officers determined Somerville was intoxicated and refused to leave the property after being told to do so by the homeowners.
While there, the former news anchor allegedly threatened his brother, which led to the violent interaction between the two, CBS Bay Area reported.
Somerville was arrested for criminal threats, public intoxication, assault and a probation violation.
Officers transported the local celebrity to Berkeley Jail.
After his initial release, Somerville reportedly returned to the residence around 3:26 a.m. Tuesday to retrieve his property.
There he rang the doorbell and said he was looking for something he still had.
He kept pressing the button until the victim called the police again.
Prior to his KTVU exit, Somerville was suspended twice in 2021 for tripping and speaking his words during shows, according to Mercury News
Somerville (right) with his daughter in a photo posted to Facebook
When they arrived a second time, officers said they found Somerville behind the wheel of his car. Police say they found signs of visible drunkenness.
Officers also reported seeing Somerville driving under the influence.
Somerville was arrested suspicion of driving under the influence and probation violation.
He was returned to Berkeley Penitentiary before being transferred to Santa Rita Penitentiary.
Somerville will appear in Oakland on Thursday.